“You know that pouting isn’t going to make them change their mind.” Methir caught up to him.

“I don’t understand why they suddenly lock off ages, Methir.” Kyrik’s growing frown intensified. “I also don’t understand why you and Jirmen want me to keep this hidden from at least the Warlocks. I can help!”

The black fins on Methir’s head raised slightly alongside her comforting smile. “I know. But you need to understand that in a situation like this, someone may exploit you. Especially with your naivety.”

“I’m not naïve.”

“Until last week, you didn’t know what-”

CRACK!

An emerald light crossed the sky above out of nowhere. Like a streaking comet, it rocketed at them before they had time to react, flying above their heads and crashing into the ground with enough force to topple. Dirt and debris flung into the air as trees were thrown from their rooting like a hatchling playing with a toy.

“Are you alright?” Methir called, Kyrik barely able to hear through the ringing in his ears.

Kyrik didn’t answer, too busy trying to figure out what in the world happened. The comet not only created a deep hole, but a path leading to it that cut through the ground like a knife. Glowing green liquid stained the ground like blood. A comet that bled?

Ignoring Methir’s word of caution, his curiosity blocked all potential warning as he approached. The glow of the comet slowly dimmed, taking shape of something. His protofeathers stood rigid as he detected life from it; faint, but there. A living comet? Kyrik had seen many strange things, but this was up there already.

“Is that…a dragon?” Methir questioned.

Sure enough, the shape it was taking had four limbs, a tail, and a face not dissimilar in appearance to Kyrik’s. Much sharper, almost like a shriker’s but beak-like as well. The glow faded alongside Kyrik’s understanding of the universe.

***

Once Kyrik stepped back into the library, he noted that dull lights had been illuminated. Not enough to see everything clearly, but now he had little worry of bumping into anyone or anything. He could see his portal from here, hidden away from prying eyes behind a bookshelf. Azulia’s eyes flickered over too and led the way toward it.

“Question,” Kyrik suddenly realized something. “Why would Witherwing not know the wards were down if he could attack?”

“He, Lei, and Tarvi can bypass it along with myself.” She answered whilst examining his portal. “How many do you have?”

“Uhh…”

“It’s not wise to lie to me, Kyrik.” Azulia’s large shadow covered Kyrik as she stared down upon him.

“Erm…none here.” He dodged the question. Her intense gaze never left him for what felt like hours.

“Should I be searching my quarters, then?” She asked with some amusement.

“Why would you think I put one there?” Kyrik tilted his head.

“Never mind.” Azulia replied with some exasperation.

Once before the portal, Kyrik extended a claw and a tiny rune formed in his palm. The churning vortex reacted by growing wider and accelerating its pace. He could feel a presence on the other side, one that brought back some residual…‘meh’. That quickly changed when she stepped out.

She was beautiful in an alien way, with shimmering black scales that gave the illusion of shifting hues in certain lights. Orange markings, completely foreign to him, marked her beak-like face and along her slender draconic body. Tendril-like barbs ran down her neck starting where her long, curved horns jutted out behind her.

“Fire?” Kyrik drifted his gaze to her runes again.

She regarded him with an unreadable look. Kali was strange in many ways, the way she operated her elements being one of the weirdest. Unlike most, who had an elemental core locking them into one, Kali’s was malleable. Every time she fell asleep, it might change. How this worked, Kyrik had not found out yet. One thing he did know was that it changed her personality.

And now he regretted the argument he had with her.

“I didn’t expect you to talk to me for the rest of the day,” Kali clicked her tongue; still bitter.

“Well, someone’s been murdered, and I can’t leave so…” Kyrik’s eyes shifted slightly.

She gave him a blank look. “There’s been a murder?”

“It just happened.”

“And you didn’t bother to tell anyone?”

“I was kinda preoccupied…”

“And let me guess, I can’t leave either.” She instead turned her annoyance to Azulia, who watched from afar. The queen nodded in confirmation. “Lovely.”

“In his defense,” Azulia spoke, “It seems to be a repeat of…that event.”

It was Kali’s turn to remain quiet. She turned to Kyrik, expression softened. “Oh.”

“Kyrik appears to be the target, as the attack was left directly in his path.” Azulia continued. “Naturally, he is under my protection now. He believed you could assist.”

Kali’s face turned suspicious. At who or what, Kyrik couldn’t tell. “Let me call Jirmen; he’ll want to be involved.”

“I would prefer you didn’t,” Azulia shook her head. “It’s bad enough we have a reaper, and now a murder? They don’t know what you are, and seeing the Archmage of Falmari will cause a panic. I’d rather settle this myself.”

Before Kali could speak, Witherwing appeared in the blink of an eye. Kyrik was beginning to question why he was surprised anymore.

“We have a few suspects that are to be questioned,” Witherwing informed. “Would you like to see them yourself?”

“Absolutely.” Azulia ruffled her wings and stood more dignified.

“Can I come?” Kyrik asked quietly. All heads turned to him. “I need to know.”

Azulia looked ready to say no but relented. “Very well. But do not interfere.”

Both Kyrik and Kali looked at each other. Both knew that he would if the situation arose. The larger, ebony dragon moved a bit closer to him as if to prevent him from walking in front.

The holding area was…terrifying if Kyrik were honest. In the dungeons, where he had previously not been allowed. From his explorations he learned of another level blow this. If this made him uncomfortable, he didn’t want to see what she had below.

The dungeons were cold and moist with bars thick as Kyrik’s claw. Elemental resistant, too. Inside, he could see prisoners. Most were quiet, regarding them with leery eyes and snarling expressions. When asked, most of the ones on the top level were here temporarily. The crimes were minor, the most being destruction of property.

According to Witherwing, this was the first murder in a long, long time.

The suspects were fewer than expected, but what was expected is for them to find Lei standing guard over them. They were quite anxious around him, no doubt expecting him to lop off their heads at any moment.

Most alarmingly, he saw Valir here.

“Don’t you start,” Kali said when he moved.

“I just helped her, I can’t watch her be brutally interrogated!” Kyrik protested in whispers.

“I understand that, but do you notice Lei watching you?” Kali indicated to him. Sure enough, the abysean was had one eye on them. “You may be under Azulia’s protection, but not his. If you do anything, he may lash out and be in full justification for it.”

“How do you know all of this?” Kyrik questioned.

“Instead of wandering around aimlessly last time, I asked around. Only Witherwing surpasses him in authority.”

“…Your point?”

“If you act impulsively, you may as well give her a death sentence and cause a Reincarnation for yourself. I don’t trust Azulia – at all – so I would much rather be kept in her good graces.”

Kyrik fidgeted slightly. “There has to be something we can do.”

Kali let out a small sigh. “There is, but I would rather not do it so soon.”

Lei gently grabbed a gryphon and pulled him into the cell. By gently, it meant that he all but yanked the poor avian’s wing right off.

“Wait, he’s doing the interrogating?” Kyrik’s protofeathers stood on end.

Azulia looked down on him. “He insisted on taking one to move things along.”

“He’s going to tear him apart!” Kyrik protested. “You know how he is!”

“Murder is not something I take lightly, Kyrik.” She said curtly. “I am allowing you to watch. Do not make me regret it.”

“I’m not watching torture!” Kyrik went to move past them.

The next few seconds were a blur. Azulia reached out to stop him forcibly, but her claw had been grabbed by Kali. The instant she did, Witherwing held a molten spike to Kali’s neck. Not one of them blinked.

“Release her,” Witherwing said through a serpentine hiss.

“Tell her to grab more gently.” Kali snarled. Kyrik was surprised at her tenacity right now. In her previous fire states, she was not this aggressive. “Azulia has you; Kyrik has me.”

“How interesting,” Azulia chuckled with amusement. “Stand down, Witherwing. She cannot harm me.”

Witherwing did so, his orange eyes never leaving Kali. “If Lei is not to interrogate, then how shall we proceed?”

“I could talk to them.” Kyrik offered.

“Kyrik dear, they would take advantage of your naivety.” Azulia said gently. Kyrik scowled deeply. “I know you want to help, but kindness like that can be warped.”

“Then what?” He confronted. “If that is true, then they can appeal to your vanity. Lei’s got to have a vice they can attack!”

Azulia’s mouth parted slightly in mild surprise. “True.”

“Fine,” Kali stepped forward, rolling her eyes. “I’ll do it.”

“And what can you do?” Azulia questioned.

“Dreamtender is the name of my species – I can see into their minds.”

The queen contemplated for a moment before shouting, her voice like a banshee. “LEI!”

After a moment, the abysean walked out. “You don’t need to shout.”

“You are no longer needed for interrogation,” Azulia said. “We have someone who can see into dreams.”

Lei’s eyes shot to Kali. “Ah, her. She’s different today.” He looked back inside. “And how does this work again?”

“As stated, I can see into dreams.” Kali answered with a hint of irritation.

“Do they need to be awake?”

“It works better when they are asleep, but-”

Without any warning, Lei extended his claws in both ways and unleashed a wave of crimson energy. It collided with the suspects, slamming them hard against a wall and rendering them unconscious. Kyrik’s eyes flew wide and without thinking, he shot his own element at Lei. It didn’t do much to the abysean, unfortunately.

“Enough!” Azulia slammed her tail between them. “How did you attack?!” she demanded of Kyrik.

“The ward was powered down,” Lei answered for him. “I assumed you did it because of my methods.”

“No.” Azulia snarled. “Witherwing, check the runes with me. Lei, make sure no one gets any ideas.” She turned to Kali and Kyrik. “You two, in the cell and lock it.”

Before any of them could question it, Witherwing had already gathered the bodies of the suspects and carried them in all at once. Both Kyrik and Kali exchanged looks before following him inside. The room was small and cramped, especially with the seven of them in there once Witherwing left. Kyrik locked the door with a rune, and for the first time all day, he and Kali were alone.